The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-10
The Story of a Wreck.
Thrilling and Romantic Account of
a Mutiny at Sea.
BY w. CLARK RUSSELL.
CHAPTER XXIv.-CoSr1sUEo.

We'll, there's nothen to alarm US in
that, is there, Mr.. Royle?" he ques-
toned Perhaps it's one O my plugs
as wants hammerin'."
mo, they're as tight as a new ket-
tle," l answered. Il have just come
from examining them"
well, all we've got to do is to pump
the ship out, and, if we can, make the
pumps suck all right. That'll show US
if any things wrong"
This was just the proposition L was
about to make; so | went into the cud-
dy and sung out for the steward; but
he was so long answering that | lost
my temper and ran into the pantry,
where / found him shamming sleep.
| started him on his legs and had
him on the main-deck in less time than
he could have asked what the matter
was.
Look here" l cried. eff you don't
turn to and help us all to save our
lives. III just send you adrift in that
quarter-boat with the planks out of her
bottom! What do you mean BIZ pre-
tending to be asleep when | sing out to
you?"
And after abusing him for some time
to let him know that / would have no
skulking, and that if his life were
worth having he must save it himself,
for we were not going to do his work
and our own as well, and | babe him
Law hold of one of the pump-handles,
and we all three of US set to work to
pump the ship.
4 81, g, al l. .Dl,
had yet performed. it was the most
firing; but we piled our arms steadily
and perseveringly, taking every now
and then a spell of rest, and shifting
our posts so as to vary our postures;
and after pumping L scarcely know
how long, the pumps sucked, whereat
the boatswain and [ cheered heartily.
''Now, sir, said the bOatswain, rs
we entered the cuddy to refresh our
selves with drain of brandy-and-
water after our heavy exertions, 1--WE
know that the ships dry, leassways,
Starting from the ships bottom; if the
wells sounded agin at half-past ten
it's now half-past nine-that II be time
enough to find out if any things gone
wrOrg."
Miss Robertson came on deck and
said she was afraid there was some
thing wrong when she heard the pumps
going.
81 should tell you at once if there
was any danger threatened that way"
/ said. There was more water in the
ship than / cared to find in her, ana so
the three of US have been pumping her
out"
1t was arranged that the well should
be sounded again Mt half-past ten. The
boatswain then turned in and was
doubtless sound asleep in FIVE minutes.
Miss Robertson stood near the table
with her hands folded and her eyes
bent down.
WAS about to ask her to withdraw
to her cabin and get some sleep.
Mr.. Royle, you are dreadfully tired
and worn ont. and yet you are going
on deck to remain ut the wheel for two
hours"
That is nothing"
"Why will you not let me take your
place.
Because"-
LET the steward keepnear that lad
der there, so that | can call to him'i ]
want YOU
do YOU think l could rest with Tho
knowledge YOU were alone on deck?'
You refuse because you believe !
am not to be trusted she said, gent
", looking down again.
If your life were not dependent on
the ships safety. | should not think of
her safety, but of yours, | refuse for
your own sake, hot for mine-nO,
will not say that. For both our Sakes
] refuse. have one dear hope-well,
! will call it great ambition, which
need not be ashamed to own: it is,
that l may be the means ofplacng YOU
on shore in England. This hope has
given me half the courage with which
1 have fought on through danger after
danger since | first brought You from
the wreck. If any thing should hap
pen TO You now, | feel that all the
courage and strength of heart which
have sustained me would go. Is that
saving too much? | do not wish to
eXaggerate." | exclaimed. feeling the |
blood in my checks, and lamenting.
without being able to control, the i'm
pulse that had forced this speech from
me. and scarcely knowing whether to |
applaud or detest myself for my can
dor.
She looked up at me with her frank. |
beautiful eyes, but on a sudden averted |
them from nv face 10 the door of the |
cabin where her dead father lay. A |
look of indescribable anguish came over
her. and she drew a deep, long, sob
bing breath.
Without another word, l took her |
hand and led her to the cabin, and / |
knew the reason why she did not turn |
and speak 10 me WAS that | might not |
see she was weeping.
But it was a time for action, and | |
dare not let the deep love that had |
came to me for her divert my thoughts
from my present extremity.
| summoned the steward. who |
tumbled out of his cabin smartK |
enough, and ordered him to bring his |
mattress and lay it alongside the COM
panion-ladder. so as to be within hail. |
This done, l gained the poop and
sent Cornish below.
CHAPTER XIV.
As l stood at the wheel l considered |
how I should act when the storm had /
passed. And l was justified in specu-
Iatlng, because now the sky was clear
right away round, and the stars large |
and bright though a strong gale was
still blowing and keeping the sea very
heavy.
We had been heading west ever since /
we hove to, and travelling brosdside on
dead south-south-east. Now, if wind
and sea dropped, our business would